Improvement in track-clearers for harvesters



CHARLES N. OWEN.

Improvement in Track Clearers for Harvesters.

NO, 121,123. Paten.tedNov-21,187L

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. OWEN, OF SALEM, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACK-CLEARERS FOR HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,123, dated November21, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-(JHAnLr.s N. OWEN, of Salem, in the county ofOolumbiana, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement inTrack-Olearers for Harvesters, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingmaking a part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a perspectiveview of my improvement, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section takenon line 00 y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in both figures.

The want of a track-clearer which is adjustable and yielding, while atthe same time possessed of sufficient strength or tension to clear awaythe grass with certainty, has long been felt among manufacturers ofharvesting-machines. With a view to meet the above-recited requirementsI have made this invention, which consists, essentially, in combiningwith the outer shoe of a harvester finger-bar a track-clearer, connectedwith said shoe by means of two pivots, one horizontal and the other"ertical, the vibration of the clearer about the vertical pivot beingcontrolled by a spring and a stop, in a.

manner and for a purpose which will be hereinafter fully explained.

In the drawing, A is the finger-bar; B, the outer shoe, and O thetrack-clearer; these parts being of any usual or desired construction.The clearer G is attached to a socket-piece, O, by means of a horizontalpivot, 0, whereby the clearer is free to vibrate vertically to pass overobstructions. The socket-piece O is mounted on the shoe by means of avertical pivot, 0 which passes through a bracket, D, formed upon orsecuredto the upper side of shoe B. The lower end of pivot 0 should bestepped in the shoe, as shown in Fig.2; and when desired I provide thelower end of said pivot with a screwthread, which takes into acorresponding thread in the shoe. Thus, by screwing the pivot into theshoe a suflicient distance before affixing the clearer, the parts may besecured in proper potition. E is a coiled spring, confined withinbracket D, and actuating pivot 0 and through the pivot the clearer, insuch manner as to throw the rear of the clearer inward, as will bereadily understood. In practice I usually construct bracket D in theform of an inclosing-shell, surrounding spring E, so as to shut out anysubstances which might clog or impede the action of the spring. at is astop, against which a projecting jaw or spur of socket-piece G strikes,thus limiting the inward throw of the clearer. Stop d may be inserted inanyone of a series of holes, 0 in bracket D, thus making the cleareradjustable.

It will readily be seen that the tension upon the clearer may beincreased to any desired or practicable extent by winding up spring E,and yet leave the clearer free to yield sufficiently to passobstructions; and that .by applying the spring to the vertical pivot,with which the clearer vibrates in a horizontal path, it (the clearer)is entirely free from restraint when vibrating vertically. The spring Emay be arranged within a suitable cavity or recess formed in on or uponthe shoe or bar, as may be preferred, as its exact location may bechanged at will without affecting the nature of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a track-clearer attached to the finger-bar orshoe of a harvester by two pivots, one vertical and the otherhorizontal, substantially as described, a spring, applied to and actingupon that part of the joint or connection which vibrates in a horizontalplane, as set forth.

2. In combination with a track clearer attached to the finger-bar orouter shoe of a barvester by a vertical pivot, the coiled spring E,substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the pivoted clearer O, the spring E andadjustable stop d, substantially as set forth.

O. N. OWEN.

Witnesses:

PETER AMBLER,

Jon REITZELL. (7 4)

